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Mad Harold
United Kingdom
228 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Jan 2019 : 10:15:54
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Although I don't currently own a Norman,I may at some time in the future.I do keep lurking on this site to "keep abreast"
I have been told (by a yard owner)that a fibreglass boat has to come out of the water every year in order to "dry out" I thought that fibreglass was impervious to water.Does it have to come out of the water?
Is this true,or is it "an old wives tale"?
Grateful for any input.
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trevork
3949 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2019 : 15:01:37
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| There is some truth in this but the intervening period is a tad fluid! Some will say every other year and others will only do this once a flood! A lot depends upon the condition of the GRP, if its in pristine condition the chances of it absorbing moisture are less. I'm sure there will be more "expert" views to follow! |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2019 : 12:27:48
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Nice little earner for a yard, all that lifting and storage. But rivers and canals are full of boats that might come out for a week or so for antifoul - if at all. Just as osmosis never in recorded history ever sank a boat, so sitting in water never sank one either.
Filling up with rainwater might sink a boat, or like boats I have seen moored too tightly in flood conditions and getting pulled under, but normally floating it is no problem.
I've had a Norman 20 stern-drive that stayed on mooring, coming out only to get trailed down to Chi to visit family on the I.O.W. I had an Elysian that swung at anchor on the tidal Medway for years before I brought it up to the Thames where it also stayed on mooring, my Ocean 30 stayed afloat - it would have cost an arm and a leg to haul and store that boat. No harm to any of them!
Finally living the dream!
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Edited by - cliveshep on 13 Jan 2019 12:28:47 |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2019 : 17:16:43
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It all depends on the quality of the layup as to how much drying is required, crazing or damage with exposed fibres can wick water into the grp where it can react with the resin causing osmotic blisters.
Most (if not all) older boats have a few blisters but it will never sink them, I recon a month out every couple of years is good for it if convenient but not critical in most cases.
Some worry about it more than others, mine will be out for a few weeks this year in march but only because I'm changing my trim tab setup and removing rope cutters otherwise I wouldn't bother, I'll be checking/changing my anodes while it's out.
Unless I have a disaster mine won't be out next winter and depending on how fast the anodes have erroded it may not come out the year after either.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
 Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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Sonny
United Kingdom
191 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2019 : 22:35:25
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Ive got a nineteen fiftys seamaster cruiser that is covered in blisters some were 3 inches across. when we had it serveyed it was suggested that we dry it out for two winters and then seal it over using two pack. this we did and after six coats of jotun two pack rollered on we have had no more noticable degridation. I lift it out once or twice a year and it still looks fine after four years. |
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Marmag
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2019 : 11:14:50
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My boat was last out of the water over 6 yrss ago why would you have to dry out a grp boat if it was porous boats would be sinking all over the place.
Mark pugh |
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Fred
2007 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2019 : 12:33:40
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The problem can appear when the gelcoat is damaged and there are any voids caused by poor saturation in the lay-up of the fibreglass matting. Water penetrating these voids can create a chemical reaction leading to swelling of the gelcoat, or worse. But it's definitely overplayed and there's a lot of money made out of repairs on tales of doom.
It would be good to see a picture of Sonny's 1950s Seamaster. Seamaster were one of the earliest producers of fibreglass craft in this country from about 1953. The boss, Dick Sparrow, went on to be a consultant to many other makers including Appleyard Lincoln (Elysian) and he later headed up Senior Marine.
Here's an interesting little film clip of Dick's Seamaster operation at Great Dunmow from 1960. (Part of the soundtrack is missing at the beginning, but stick with it.)
Seamaster Boats 1960
(Trevor, forgive the non-Norman diversion!) |
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trevork
3949 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2019 : 14:27:53
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| Nay, nice find Fred, Ta |
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Sonny
United Kingdom
191 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2019 : 11:22:00
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thankyou for the info and film Fred,there are some pics of the boat and my mooring on the visitors register. its called "Grumpys toy"
we have been told that it was owned by perkins diesel in peterbrough from new and was just a shell used as a testbed and someone bought it in the eightys and fitted it out. it has a perkins engine fitted and we love the large cockpit. I was told that there is still a photo or drawing of this boat on the wall in the maintence shop at perkins to this day
P.S hats off to trevork for letting me stay as i once had a norman 23 but was tempted to the darkside a few years ago and keep coming back to this site as it is a  very friendly,helpful sit full of info and I learn somthing new every visit |
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trevork
3949 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2019 : 13:25:35
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| Nay, Sonny, its been an age since I've owned a Norman but its what started us all out on this path of bankruptcy so we keep this going for all manner of folk. |
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Topic |
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Drying out a fibreglass hull ?
